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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

combination of state-owned and privately-owned broadcast media; 1 state-owned television network and a number of private TV networks; networks operate repeaters to extend signals throughout country; combination of state-owned and privately-owned radio stations; more than 300 radio stations operating (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.do

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

283,298 (2010) country comparison to the world: 60

Internet users [time series]

2.701 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 68

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 10 per 100 persons; multiple providers of mobile-cellular service with a subscribership of roughly 75 per 100 persons international: country code - 1-809; landing point for the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1), Antillas 1, and the Fibralink submarine cables that provide links to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and US; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

1.01 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 77

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

8.893 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 77

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs

Budget [time series]

revenues: $7.038 billion expenditures: $8.504 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-2.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

12.14% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 32 18.14% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$4.435 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 -$2.159 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$13.24 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $10.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

48.4 (2007) country comparison to the world: 26 47.4 (1998)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Dominican Republic has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, but in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in telecommunications, tourism, and free trade zones. The economy is highly dependent upon the US, the destination for nearly 60% of exports. Remittances from the US amount to about a tenth of GDP, equivalent to almost half of exports and three-quarters of tourism receipts. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GDP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of GDP. High unemployment and underemployment remains an important long-term challenge. The Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) came into force in March 2007, boosting investment and exports and reducing losses to the Asian garment industry. The growth of the Dominican Republic's economy rebounded in 2010 from the global recession, and remains one of the fastest growing in the region.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

12.87 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

14.58 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Exchange rates [time series]

Dominican pesos (DOP) per US dollar - 36.92 (2010) 36.03 (2009) 34.775 (2008) 33.113 (2007) 33.406 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$6.598 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 $5.519 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods

Exports - partners [time series]

US 52%, Haiti 13.6% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$51.63 billion (2010 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$87.25 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $80.97 billion (2009 est.) $78.27 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 7.1% industry: 28.3% services: 64.6% (2010 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$8,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 $8,400 (2009 est.) $8,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

7.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22 3.5% (2009 est.) 5.3% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.7% highest 10%: 37.8% (2007)

Imports [time series]

$15.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 $12.26 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners [time series]

US 44%, Venezuela 7%, China 6.1%, Mexico 4.9%, Colombia 4.8% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Industries [time series]

tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 169 1.4% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

16% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Labor force [time series]

4.63 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 14.6% industry: 22.3% services: 63.1% (2005)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

560 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Natural gas - imports [time series]

560 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Oil - consumption [time series]

119,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Oil - imports [time series]

107,300 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 64

Oil - production [time series]

392 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Population below poverty line [time series]

42.2% (2004)

Public debt [time series]

36.8% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 36.7% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$3.502 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $2.905 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$16.76 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $15.48 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$59 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $59 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$18.91 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $17.28 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$21.87 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $18.81 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$4.237 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 98 $4.059 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

13.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Unemployment rate [time series]

13.3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 14.9% (2009 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 48,670 sq km country comparison to the world: 132 land: 48,320 sq km water: 350 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Climate [time series]

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall

Coastline [time series]

1,288 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 3.39 cu km/yr (32%/2%/66%) per capita: 381 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

19 00 N, 70 40 W

Geography - note [time series]

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti

Irrigated land [time series]

2,750 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 360 km border countries: Haiti 360 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 22.49% permanent crops: 10.26% other: 67.25% (2005)

Location [time series]

Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines territorial sea: 6 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Natural hazards [time series]

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts

Natural resources [time series]

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Terrain [time series]

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Total renewable water resources [time series]

21 cu km (2000)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Bahoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, El Seibo, Elias Pina, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Sanchez Ramirez, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde

Capital [time series]

name: Santo Domingo geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

28 November 1966; amended 25 July 2002 and January 2010

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Dominican Republic conventional short form: The Dominican local long form: Republica Dominicana local short form: La Dominicana

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Raul H. YZAGUIRRE embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171 FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Anibal de Jesus de CASTRO Rodriguez chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280 FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057 consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Sun Valley (California)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held on 16 May 2008 (next to be held in May 2012) election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ reelected president; percent of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ 53.6%, Miguel VARGAS 41%, Amable ARISTY less than 5%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by a laurel branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon; in the shield a bible is opened to a verse that reads "Y la verdad nos hara libre" (And the truth shall set you free); blue stands for liberty, white for salvation, and red for the blood of heroes

Government type [time series]

democratic republic

Independence [time series]

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AOSIS, BCIE, Caricom (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, SICA (associated member), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the National Judicial Council comprised of the president, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and an additional non-governing party congressional representative)

Legal system [time series]

civil law system based on the French civil code; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Diputados (183 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2016); House of Representatives - last held on 16 May 2010 (next to be held in May 2016); in order to synchronize presidential, legislative, and local elections for 2016, those members elected in 2010 will actually serve terms of six years election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 31, PRD 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 105, PRD 75, PRSC 3

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Himno Nacional" (National Anthem) lyrics/music: Emilio PRUD"HOMME/Jose REYES note: adopted 1934; also known as "Quisqueyanos valientes" (Valient Sons of Quisqueye); the anthem never refers to the people as Dominican but rather calls them "Quisqueyanos," a reference to the indigenous name of the island

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

National symbol(s) [time series]

palmchat (bird)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Ramon ALBURQUERQUE]; National Progressive Front [Vincent CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Enrique ANTUN]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania); Collective of Popular Organizations or COP; Foundation for Institution-Building and Justice (FINJUS)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age; note - members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote

Introduction

Background [time series]

The Taino - indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of the Europeans - divided the island into five chiefdoms and territories. Christopher COLUMBUS explored and claimed the island on his first voyage in 1492; it became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821 but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930-61. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the United States led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in an election to become president. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. Former President (1996-2000) Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna won election to a new term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve more than one term, and was since reelected to a second consecutive term.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,580,083 females age 16-49: 2,464,698 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,188,358 females age 16-49: 2,090,180 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 100,047 female: 96,302 (2010 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy (Marina de Guerra), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Dominicana, FAD) (2011)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 150

Military service age and obligation [time series]

16-21 years of age for compulsory military service; recruits must be Dominican Republic citizens; women may volunteer (2010)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 29.5% (male 1,493,251/female 1,441,735) 15-64 years: 64% (male 3,251,419/female 3,120,540) 65 years and over: 6.5% (male 300,245/female 349,458) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.67 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

3.4% (2007) country comparison to the world: 101

Death rate [time series]

4.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 87% of population rural: 84% of population total: 86% of population unimproved: urban: 13% of population rural: 16% of population total: 14% of population (2008)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2.3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 151

Ethnic groups [time series]

mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.9% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

2,300 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

57,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 57

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

6.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 104

Hospital bed density [time series]

1 beds/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 147

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 22.22 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 89 male: 24.21 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.31 years country comparison to the world: 61 male: 75.16 years female: 79.55 years (2011 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87% male: 86.8% female: 87.2% (2002 census)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

SANTO DOMINGO (capital) 2.138 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

100 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 69

Median age [time series]

total: 26.1 years male: 26 years female: 26.3 years (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Dominican(s) adjective: Dominican

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

1.88 physicians/1,000 population (2000) country comparison to the world: 71

Population [time series]

9,956,648 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Population growth rate [time series]

1.331% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 87% of population rural: 74% of population total: 83% of population unimproved: urban: 13% of population rural: 26% of population total: 17% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 11 years female: 13 years (2004)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.44 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 30.3% country comparison to the world: 15 male: 21.2% female: 44.5% (2007)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 69% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Haitian migrants cross the porous border into the Dominican Republic to find work; illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find better work

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money laundering activity in particular by Colombian narcotics traffickers; significant amphetamine consumption (2008)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: the Dominican Republic is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; a large number of Dominican women are trafficked into prostitution and sexual exploitation throughout the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, the Middle East, and the United States; child sex tourism is a problem; forced labor of adults exists in construction, some agricultural production, and the domestic service sectors tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of the Dominican Republic does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; despite some progress, most notably in the area of identifying and protecting a greater number of trafficking victims, the government did not demonstrate overall increased efforts over the previous reporting period in prosecuting trafficking offenders, including officials complicit in forced prostitution and forced labor (2011)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

35 (2010) country comparison to the world: 109

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 16 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 17 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 country comparison to the world: 154 by type: cargo 1 registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

oil 99 km

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Puerto Haina, Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo oil terminals: Andres LGN terminal (Boca Chica), Punta Nizao oil terminal

Railways [time series]

total: 142 km country comparison to the world: 125 standard gauge: 142 km 1.435-m gauge (2010)

Roadways [time series]

total: 19,705 km country comparison to the world: 110 paved: 9,872 km unpaved: 9,833 km (2002)